Buddha’s Sacred Journey

Arrival in Delhi: Welcome on arrival at New Delhi Airport, where a Magadh tours executive will meet and greet at the airport with a traditional welcome.

Transfer: After meet-and-assist services, you will be transferred to your hotel for check-in.

Overnight stay: At Delhi Hotel.

Breakfast: Start the day with Breakfast at the hotel. Morning Fly To Lucknow: Morning flight to Lucknow.

Afternoon Transfer: Depart from Lucknow to Shravasti (about 3-4 hours 170 Kms).

Shravasti is an ancient city where Lord Buddha spent many rainy seasons during his preaching.

Evening Check-in to the hotel in Shravasti. Overnight stay: Overnight stay at Shravasti Hotel.

Breakfast: Start the day with Breakfast at the hotel.

Proceed to Visit:

• The ruins of Jetavana Monastery: where Buddha spent 24 rainy seasons.
• Ananda Bodhi Tree: Planted as a symbolic substitute for the original Bodhi Tree in Bodh Gaya, where Buddha attained enlightenment.
• Saheth-Maheth ruins of stupas and monasteries: is a major Buddhist archaeological and pilgrimage site, featuring the ruins of ancient stupas, monasteries, and temples associated with Lord Buddha.

Enroute: Visit Kapilvastu.

• The Kingdom of King Suddhodana: the kingdom is known as the birthplace and early home of Siddhartha Gautama, who later attained enlightenment and became the Buddha, the founder of Buddhism.
• Father of Lord Buddha: King Suddhodana was the father of Siddhartha Gautama, who later became Lord Buddha, the founder of Buddhism.
• The ruins of Tilaurakot & nearby stupas: is an important archaeological and historical site believed to be the ancient city of Kapilavastu.

Transfer to Lumbini: Start the journey to Lumbini (approx. 5-6 hours’ drive), located in Nepal.

Lumbini is the birthplace of Lord Buddha and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Evening: Check into your hotel in Lumbini.

Relax or enjoy a peaceful evening walk in the Lumbini Garden area. 

Overnight stay: Overnight stay at Lumbini Hotel.

Breakfast: Start the day with Breakfast at the hotel.

Proceed to Visit in Morning:

• The Holy Birthplace of Lord Buddha: is a sacred place located in Rupandehi District of southern Nepal, and it is world-famous as the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama, who later became Lord Buddha, the founder of Buddhism.
• Maya Devi Temple: is an ancient Buddhist temple situated at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Lumbini, Nepal. It is the main temple at Lumbini, a site traditionally considered the birthplace of Gautama Buddha.
• Ashoka Pillar: is a monolithic stone pillar erected by Emperor Ashoka in 249 BC to mark the birthplace of Gautam Buddha.
• Sacred garden- is the holy area surrounding the exact birthplace of Lord Buddha, where Queen Māyā Devi gave birth to Siddhartha Gautama.
• Various monasteries built by different countries.

Transfer to Kushinagar: Drive towards Kushinagar (approx. 4-5 hours).

Evening: Check into your hotel in Kushinagar. Overnight stay: At Kushinagar Hotel.

Breakfast: Start the day with Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: Proceed to Visit important sites in Kushinagar:

• Mahaparinirvana Temple: marks the sacred place where Lord Buddha attained Mahaparinirvana, or final nirvana, after his death.
• Ramabhar Stupa: It is considered one of the holiest sites in Buddhism, symbolizing the Buddha’s final release from the cycle of rebirth (samsara).
• Indo-Japan Temple- is a prominent Buddhist temple built through the collaboration between India and Japan.

Enroute: Visit Kesariya: The largest Buddhist stupa of the world.

Drive to Vaishali: Drive to Vaishali (approx. 3-4 hours): an ancient city of great historical and religious significance in India.

Afternoon Visit:

• Ashokan Pillar: a significant Buddhist pilgrimage site and a historical monument.
• Relic Stupa: is a Buddhist monument built to house sacred relics of the Buddha or other important Buddhist saints.
• World Peace Pagoda: is a Buddhist monument built to promote peace, harmony, and non-violence worldwide.
• Coronation Tank: is a sacred water reservoir located Vaishali.

Evening: After Sightseeing check in to the hotel in Vaishali.Overnight stay: At Vaishali Hotel.

Breakfast: Start the day with Breakfast at the hotel. Morning: Early departure to Rajgir (.5  hours),, The place where Lord Buddha spent many rainy season & 1st Buddhist council was held after his Mahaparinirvana. 

Enroute visit Nalanda, home to the ancient Nalanda University, a great centre of learning in ancient India. 

• Visit Nalanda ruins: One of the world’s oldest universities and a centre of learning for Mahayana Buddhism.
• Nalanda Archaeological Museum: one of the world’s earliest and most famous centre of higher learning and Buddhist studies.

After visit drive to Rajgir Visit  Vulture’s Peak (Gridhakuta): where Buddha delivered many sermons.

• Venuvana Monastery: Gifted by King Bimbisara.
• Bimbisar prison. King Bimbisar was prisoned by his son Ajat satru.

Afternoon Transfer to Bodhgaya: Drive to Bodhgaya ( 2 hours), the most sacred Buddhist pilgrimage site where Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree.

Evening: Check in to the hotel in Bodhgaya. Overnight stay: At Bodhgaya Hotel.

Breakfast: Start the day with Breakfast at the hotel.

Proceed to Visit:

• Mahabodhi Temple: is one of the most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites in the world.
• Sujata village: Associated with a Woman Sujata, who offered milk-rice (sweet rice pudding) to Lord Buddha before getting enlightenment.
• Niranjana River: Bodhgaya is situated on the bank of river Niranajana – it is considered to be Holy symbol of Buddhism connected with the life of Lord Buddha.
• Various international monasteries: The monasteries of different countries E.G. Thailand, Myanmar, Bhutan, etc. including 80 ft. Buddha statue.

Overnight Stay: At Bodhgaya Hotel.

Breakfast: Start the day with Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: Transfer to Varanasi: (approx. 6-7 hours), one of the world’s oldest living cities and a major spiritual hub in India.

Afternoon: Check into the hotel and take rest.

Proceed to Visit:

• Dhamekha Stupa: A massive and sacred monument marking the spot where Lord Buddha gave his first sermon after enlightenment. 
• Mulagandha Kuti Vihar: The Vihara enshrined with the sacred relics of Sakyamuni Buddha.
• Ashokan Pillar: Marked the site of Buddha’s first sermon. It is famed for its Lion Capital, now the national emblem of India.
• Deer Park: A sacred site where Gautama Buddha delivered his first sermon after enlightenment, marking the beginning of the Buddhist Sangha.
• Sarnath Museum: It is dedicated to preserving and displaying artifacts related to Buddhism, especially those connected to the life and teachings of Lord Buddha.

Overnight Stay: At Varanasi Hotel.

Breakfast: Start the day with Breakfast at the hotel.

Proceed to Visit:

• Sunrise Boat Ride on the Ganges: Witness sunrise and daily life on the ghats.

Afternoon:Transfer to Varanasi airport for your flight back to Delhi. On arrival at Delhi Airport. Evening: Free for leisure.

Transfer to Airport: Timely Transfer to the airport to catch the flight for onward destination.